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1 Happy New Year from the Textiles and Crafts Group Newsletter 62 February 2020
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Happy New Year from the Textiles and Crafts Group
Newsletter 62 February 2020
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Chairman’s Message Dear Members The AGM for Diss U3A will take place on Thursday 5th March, before the main meeting. We hope to fill the following vacancies:
Secretary Due to the sudden and unexpected death of Gill Goadby, we need someone to take on this role. The role description is available on the website. An active member of the Committee, the Secretary is the focal point of our U3A and manages the agenda/minutes of our Committee meetings and the AGM.
Publicity Secretary - due to time served (5 years), this role is now open for "new blood". The role description is also available on the website. Aside from producing a quarterly Newsletter, the role includes locally publicising the U3A. Tony Callender
Interest Groups
Editor’s comment: Almost a record number of reports in this edition. Many thanks to everyone who contributed.
A date for your diary. Wednesday 3rd June is U3A Day. To mark the event Diss U3A are planning an OPEN AFTERNOON. More details will wing their way to you as plans are formulated. I will be asking for all manner of favours and help for that day please. The object of running the open afternoon is to try to spread the word about the U3A and what we’re all about. Dispel fears as soon as the word University is mentioned, and encourage interest in the huge range of groups, talks and social events we offer. Anna Styche Groups Coordinator
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Family History Group – Gill Goadby is in the front row, left side
Walking Netball One of our new groups ‘Waking Netball’ has proved to be a huge hit. We had initial problems finding a suitable venue to play indoors, having decided that an outdoor court would be too cold for people of a certain age, not to mention the rain sleet and snow. Another factor in favour of an indoor court was the wooden floor; it provides a much gentler landing when a tumble occurs. Of course our group members are competitive but well behaved, and when divided into two teams play a very sporting game. With the exception of one or two members who get so excited they break into a lopsided canter or even a crouching trot! We have an hour long session starting with the all-important warm up exercises, then come the netball tactics when the serious action happens and the top layers of clothing are discarded. We have a very short interval, more netball and then a cooling down exercise. Members are buzzing with enthusiasm
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from the session, and that’s mainly due to our two fantastic coaches, Hilary and Maggie. You are most welcome to see us play; we meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday mornings at the DYCC on Shelfanger Road. We have ladies and men in the group, and there’s no obligation to join for the first two visits. Bring along a bottle of water and some non-slip comfy shoes, just in case you feel like joining in!
Anna Styche 01379 871482.
Textiles and Crafts group. See those spectacular wreaths on the front cover! Last January, we were up to our elbows in slushy pulp which we managed to transform into lovely sheets of hand-made paper. Subsequent months saw us sewing baskets, painting on glass, creating bath bombs (another messy one!) making earrings and hammering flowers. We finished the year trying our hand at door garlands, floral centrepieces and cinnamon ornaments, ready for Xmas. So what have we got planned for 2020? Current ideas
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include pebble art, tie-dye, bunting, decoupage, quilling, and mini mosaics. We have a lot of fun trying out new and different crafts in our group and there’s room for a couple more people to come and join us. We meet on the third Monday of each month, 10.30 to 12.30, so if you think this could be for you, give me a ring or e-mail me for more info. Helen Rowland 01379 / 641348 [email protected]
History Group New Members welcome
2020
Diss U3A History @10:15
Waveney Chapel, Stanley Road, IP22
4BN
Date
SUBJECT
SPEAKER
Feb 19th
Simonds Coaches
Martyn, MD Simonds Coaches
Mar 18th Introducing the geology of Norfolk and Suffolk’.
Tim Holt-Wilson
Apr 15th
Louie`s Lane Murder
Lucy Wilgress
May 20th The Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic 1939-45
John Johnson-Allen
Jun 17th
Zeppelins Over Norfolk
Stephen Pope
Jul 15th Daniel Malden (the Suffolk Turpin)
Pip Wright
Aug 19th
Workhouse
Alison Molnos
Sep 16th
Thomas Paine - Fighter for freedom in three worlds: the Old, the New, and the Next’.
Tim Holt-Wilson
Oct 21st
TBA
Nov 18th
TBA
December
No Meeting
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We meet at 10:15 on the 3rd Wednesday of the Month at the Waveney Chapel (the Co-op), Stanley Road, Diss, I22 4BNWe are quite a small group, but have talks on various subjects, many of which are of a local nature as well as wider topics, an example being Mays talk on the Battle of the Atlantic, to tie in with the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. It is £5 a meeting, and this includes Tea or Coffee. There is limited parking at the Chapel, but plenty of room in Taylor Road Opposite. Robert Rogers
Photography Group One of trips the U3A photo group did this year was Bressingham Steam Museum (just a short trip up the road), a lovely afternoon wandering around the Gardens and playing with the Trains (I am a big kid at Heart)! Other trips out included the Norfolk and Suffolk Air Museum, St Peter and St Paul at East Harling and the English Whisky Companies Distillery. We also have meetings at one of our member’s home and try our still life skills. Robert Rogers
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Photography Group Outing to Bressingham Gardens
Petanque Group Late Summer 2019 – Away Day in Aldeburgh The Petanque team felt that now we could move forward with confidence to embark on a day trip to Aldeburgh's beautiful beachside petanque pitches to demonstrate our expertise at this international ancient French inspired game.
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We were welcomed by friendly locals who, after seeing us play, politely refused the invitation to join us in a friendly game, without doubt for fear of the embarrassment of possibly high margin final scores. At midday we adjourned to a local inn to assuage the thirst, with local brews, of a vigorous game played in warm seaside sunshine. We then went to a local restaurant famous for traditional old English fresh fish and vegetables from the locality. The meals were enjoyed “Al Fresco”, eating out of a paper bag, while sitting on the concrete flood barrier wall between the coast road and the shingle beach. Reinvigorated by a brisk walk along the coast to the ice cream booth for the sweet course, a further game and to pick up a few tips from the locals and holidaymakers. Returning to Diss we reflected on the pleasures of rural Norfolk bathed in sunshine; what a great day to have so close to home! The Petanque Group continues to play at Bressingham Village Hall, and afterwards at the White Hart Roydon. Currently the first boule down piste is 1430 but that will change as the days get longer and the weather improves. We very much play for fun, all abilities welcome. Contact Philip Grey: [email protected] The Medievalists The Medieval History Group, which meets on the third Friday of each month at Botesdale, continues to thrive on a thousand years of British and Continental history. We currently have a full complement of 14 members, a comfortable seating number for the venue. Having started some two and a half years ago with a study of the Bayeux Tapestry, members chose to continue with events following the Battle of Hastings; we have now reached the reign of King John, he of the unhappy barons and the surprising Magna Carta.
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We have had an interesting journey, taking in among many themes - the Domesday Survey, the Crusades, the Angevin Empire, legends of Robin Hood, the troubled Richard III, a close look at the castles, embroidery, food, customs, law development, and even the music, of different periods on our route. And there is still so much more to explore, including even further back to that rich Anglo-Saxon period, which awaits enticingly for 2020. We have paid a fascinating visit to Framlingham and Orford castles; we look forward at the time of writing to a New Year group lunch plus another site visit in 2020. We like to find a site where we can end up with a delicious afternoon tea! Speaking personally and looking back, I did not set out to lead this group, but finding myself doing so, I have found it a rewarding and happy experience to make this journey with a cohesive group of keen, informed and sociable people. We are supported by helpful Group Secretary Anna Styche, while the comradeship of the varied Diss branch monthly meetings are vital, binding us all together. June Shepherd Committee Members
Tony Callender: Chair 01379 651259 [email protected] Fanny Grey: Vice-Chair [email protected] Bronwen Moran: Acting Secretary [email protected] Brian Styche: Treasurer [email protected] Helen Rowland: Membership Secretary 01379 641348 [email protected] Philip Grey: Programme Secretary [email protected] Anna Styche: Groups Coordinator 01379 871482 [email protected]
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Georgina Livingstone: Publicity Secretary/Newsletter Editor 01379 890189 [email protected] Tony Callender: IT Administrator 01379 651259 [email protected] Barry Davies: Accessibility Officer [email protected]
Birdwatching Group - New Year Walk on Lackford Lakes
Weather chilly but for the time of year, warm and sunny. Our group was the first to report a grey wagtail to go on the 2020 list of birds seen. Gill Russell
Blue tit
Bullfinch
Silver bird
Dunnock
Nuthatch
Common Pipistrelle Bat [dead]
Moorhen
Lapwing flock Muntjack Robin
Cormorant Sheep
Blackbird
Little Egret Great tit
Teal
Magpie
Carrion crow Canada goose Little Grebe Wigeon
Grey Wagtail
Coot
Marsh tit Gadwall
Coal tit
Greylag goose Wren Blackheaded gull Longtailed tit
Scaup Mute swan
Tufted duck Pochard
Mallard Buzzard Shoveller Greylag goose
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Walking Group 23rd October – Market Weston
Birdwatching Lackford Lakes Lapwing
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Birdwatching Group Lackford Lakes – woodland area
Photography Group St Peter and Paul’s church, East Harling East Harling Whisky Distillery
